The body spends a lot on acid-alkaline balancing. Toxic ash residues are a serious issue.
Metabolism is the body burning the food eaten. As food is burned, waste products are produced – just as any burning fire produces heat and also smoke and ash. Since these waste products are located within the body, they need to be processed by recycling, putting them into storage, or excreting them in urine, stool, out-breath, or sweat.
The products of metabolism may be quite acidic, or the may be the opposite, alkaline. Because the acid-alkaline balance of the blood must be kept within a very narrow range of to maintain life, the body has many systems to maintain this balance. The metabolic burning of some types of food requires different balancing mechanism than do other foods, and produce different types of ash residues.
The Western diet contributes to high acidity levels. Dairy, sugars, meats and grains can all affect the body pH level, causing it to become more acidic. When the body is acidic, minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, are taken from the bones and organs to help neutralize the acid and remove such waste products from the body, and may cause deficiencies in mineral reserves.
High body acidity is related with bone loss, dental cavities, fatigue, joint stiffness chronic inflammation and premature aging. It is also associated with sleep disruption. weight gain, acne and allergies. Also, shortness of breath, nausea, confusion, weakness, reduced immunity, acid reflux and other digestive disorders, atrophic disorders, cognitive decline, and more.
When the body is too acidic, less oxygen is available to the cells. Less tissue oxygen creates an anaerobic environment that favors the growth of yeast, viruses, fungus, bacteria, even cancer.
Every enzyme, every hormone, and every receptor for those hormones in the body are dependent upon the pH. To have the same effect, it may take twice as much of the same hormone at an altered pH, as it would have taken at a normal pH.
Acid producing foods
The acid producing effect of foods can not be determined by the taste of the food. Acid producing foods are those that cause more acidity in the body when they are digested. Foods containing protein, sulfur and phosphate are typically acid forming. These foods especially include:
- Grains such as wheat bread, pasta
- Corn and corn sweeteners
- Dairy products and eggs
- Beef and shellfish
- Refined sugars
- Sodas, beer
There is a significant difference between fresh foods and processed foods.
Alkaline producing foods
Foods that are rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and other minerals are typically alkaline producing. Foods to consider to balance an overly acidic state especially include:
- Kale, broccoli, daikon and other cruciferous vegetables
- Spinach (not to be eaten excessively)
- Cucumber
- Avocado
- Limes, not oranges
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sea salt
- Seaweed
- Lentils
- Pumpkin Seeds
It is often recommended to that seventy to eighty percent of the diet be alkaline forming foods. Generally, fruit and vegetables have a net alkaline value and consequently reduce acid formation. (Foods which cause a net acidity include meat, fish, cheeses and grains.) It also can occur that if too many alkaline producing foods are eaten, the body can become too alkaline. It is important to eat a balanced diet.
Looking more closely at food choices, there are other effects of food eaten. For example, grass-fed beef is higher in healthy fats than corn-fed beef. Organic beef introduces fewer pesticide, hormone, antibiotic, and food-processing residues into the body metabolism.
As the body works to digest and metabolize the various substances eaten, a vast number of body systems are used to do the work. As the body does its many jobs, parts of the body require different levels of acidity or alkalinity to function properly. The human stomach is one of the more acid places on the planet. After passing through the highly acid stomach, food enters the small intestine, where it encounters the extremely alkaline digestive enzymes of the pancreas.
- Calmly resting in a safe environment
- In an alkaline state, due to food choices,
- diminished stress and stimulants
- Good blood flow, such as post-exercise
- Well nourished with healing nutrients
- Adequate body reserves
One of indications of net body acidity is often increased acid excretion in the urine. This can be monitored by measuring pH levels of the first morning urine. Test strips to measure pH, or litmus tape, can be purchased at a pharmacy or on line. The test simply requires urinating into a cup and then dipping the test strip into the urine. Good levels for pH are between 6.5 and 7.5. When the pH level is lower than 6.5, the body is considered acidic and when the pH level is higher than 7.5, the body is considered alkaline.